Staples CenterJanuary 16, 2012

Griffin, Clippers beat Nets without PaulLOS ANGELES—With floor general Chris Paul nowhere in sight, the Los Angeles Clippers turned to Chauncey Billups for his veteran leadership. And they got exactly what coach Vinny Del Negro was hoping for when the team obtained the 35-year-old point guard in a waiver auction from the New York Knicks in December.

Billups scored nine of his 20 points in the final 4:23 after the Clippers blew an 18-point lead, Blake Griffin had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Los Angeles held off the NETS 101-91 on Monday while Paul sat out with a strained left hamstring.

Trailing by 13 after a three-point play by Reggie Evans with 10 minutes remaining, the Nets tied it at 81 with a 15-2 run capped by Deron Williams' 3-pointer with 6:46 to play. But the Clippers outscored them 20-10 the rest of the way, as Billups drained a clinching 3-pointer with 1:09 left and added a pair of free throws.

NETS-CLIPPERS NOTEBOOKTURNING POINT: The Clippers used a 16-0 first-quarter run to take a double-digit lead, then extended their advantage to as many as 18 before the Nets rallied to tie the score, 81-81, with 6:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. Kris Humphries had a chance to give the Nets their first lead but he missed a 17-foot jumper and Clippers guard Randy Foye scored on back-to-back fast-break layups. The Nets never got back within three points the rest of the way.

GOOD MOVE/BAD MOVE: Nets small forward DeShawn Stevenson received a rare opportunity to start against the Clippers, helping form the ninth different starting lineup for the Nets this season. He'll probably only be remembered for the flagrant foul he committed on Blake Griffin as he went up for a lob with 3:22 remaining in the first half and the Clippers holding a nine-point lead. Griffin made the first free throw and missed the second, then scored on a slam dunk on the ensuing possession for a 12-point lead.

NETS NOTES C Johan Petro added 10 points (5-7 FGs) in 15 1/2 minutes off the bench...F Shawne Williams added 8 points and 8 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench...G Jordan Farmar led the team with 7 assists, also pulling down 7 rebounds, in 29 miinutes backing up at point guard.